Direction indicator



Sept 13, 1932. I T.'HlNR|cHsE.N 1,877,402

DIRECTION INDICATOR Filed Feb. 1o. 1931 Patented Sept, 13, 1932 ,Unitas stares partagezI THOMASHINRCHSEN, OE' DAVFililll?O l'll-,V IOWA ninncrron rnnrca'ron Application filed February 10, 1931. Serial No. 514,750.

Another object of my invention is the provi-V sion of a signaling device including` a means l@ for visibly indicating to the operator the position of the signaling arrow.

A further obj ect of my invention is the provision of a direction indicator for automobiles, trucks, or the like, by the use of which the signaling by hand, as it is now customary is avoided which necessitates keeping a window open and consequently exposes the operator and the inte-rior of the car to the influence of the weather causing colds and also damage tothe interior of the car. Y

. A still further object of'my invention is the provision of an automobile signal of sim-V ple, inexpensive construction, yet durable and highly etlicient in its operation, and a'device 5 which can be quickly attached to any make of car now in use without'necessitating material changes in its construction.

These and other objects and advantages of my invention will become `more fully known as the description thereof proceeds and will then be specifically dened inthe appended claim. Y

In the accompanying drawing forminga material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a sectional View of an automobile signaling device constructed-according to my invention.

Fig` 2 is a rear elevation of the device seen along the arrows 2-2 of Figure 1.

F ig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an automobile equipped with a signaling device according to the invention.

As illustrated a frame 10, preferably circular and made from metal or any other suitable material holds outer plates 11, 12, of. clearu glass forming the side walls ofthe device.

Within the casing a transversal axle 13 is v rotatably arranged in the arms of a bracket 14, the boss l5 of which is held in a tubular 1 Iclaim as newand extension of frame 10 extending outwardly and rearwardly to form a kneel. Y

, In theicasing the axle 13 carries on its endsl opaque glass discs '17, 18, provided with an arrow 19.

The-transversal spindle or axle 13 carries f intermediate its ends abevel gear 2O in mesh with a bevel gear 21, at the end of a hollow shaft 22 rotatablyv guided ina bearing 23,

and'extending through theiboss 15 into the f .".horizontal branch of knee 16, where it carries y a bevel gear 24 in mesh with a bevel gear25V at the upper end of a shaft 26 within the ver-V tical branch of the knee which is guided through a :bushing 27 secured to the outer face of the automobile frame 28. Y

The opposite end of the knee is closed by a plug 29 having an outer front face or Vflange 30 carryinggraduations 31-in frontfof which f tothe driver within thev car the variousV positions of the arrow discsI when the shaft 26 is turned or rotated by means v'of 33 at its extreme outer end.

A conductor cable 3l leads from a source of electricity to the socketof a light 35 within the housing 10, the cable hollow shaft 22. Y

The operation of my device will be 'understood from thev aboveV description and reference to the drawing, andV it will be evident that the rotation of the hand wheel will bring `an index 32 on the end of shaft 26 indicates a hand wheel passing through the the arrow discs into any desired portion to indicate the intention of an operator to make a turn and in which direction, and a glance on the graduated flange 30 will advise the operator that the arrow'shows the direction in which he desires to turn.

It will be understood thatI have described and shown thepreferred form of mydevice only,\and that I may make such ,changes in its construction as come within the scope of the appended claim' without departure from my invention. f

, Having thus described desireto secure by Letters Patent is:

l A direction indicator for vehicles compris- Y, Y

ing a circular. frame having spaced transi I V my invention what.

artnr erstesv* parent panels, a bracket fixed in said frame Y extending to its center, an axial spindle in said bracket Carrying transparent dises each bearing direction indicia adj acent said panels, A a tubular shaft in said bracket at a ri ght angle to said spindle, a hollow radial' arm Ventending outwardly from the bracket, 'said arm f `being` bent at a right angle, Vmeans toV engage the -bent portion of said yarm to a vehicle, a shaftin said bent portion, positive driving connections between said shafts .and spindles, manual operable means Jfor rotatingthe last named shaft whereby said dises may be rotated in unison, means to Visually indicate the J- movement imparted by'said manual .means,"

an illuminating means` in said frame, and a conductor to said illuminating means passing through vsaid hollow shafty 1 e In witness whereof I have signed'my name gg to this specilication. f

i Y YTHOMAS HINRICHSEN.- 

